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Much Ado about Nothing
1598 Shakespeare’splayMuchAdoaboutNothinghas
been described as a comedy which, despite its
surfacegaietyandoccasionalslapstickcomedy,
isalsoseriousandevenprofoundinitsimplica-
tions. It has also been considered an enjoyable
but problematic play. Assessments of it have
varied, but most commentators agree that
Much Ado about Nothing is a comedy of man-
ners—a play that gently pokes fun at the man-
ners and conventions of an aristocratic, highly
sophisticated society. True to this form, Much
AdoaboutNothingfeaturesthewarofthesexes,
instances of eavesdropping, mistaken identities,
misunderstoodcommunications,andatangleof
subplotsallendinginthepairingoffofmarriage-
ablecouples,thedownfallofaschemingvillain,
and the happiness of a wedding dance. Many
readers of Shakespeare’s works today would
probablyagreethatMuchAdoaboutNothingis
one of the foremost comedies of manners in
Westernliterature,onethatspeakswithwisdom
abouthumanity.
ScholarsagreethatMuchAdoaboutNothing
waswrittenandfirstperformedsometimebetween
late 1598 and 1599. An entry in the Stationer’s
Register,datedAugust4,1600,includesarefer-
ence to the play, ordering that it not be pub-
lished.Critics haveofferedseveralexplanations
for this entry in the Register, with some main-
taining that it reflects official censorship or
Puritan pressure, and others stating that it was
merely an attempt on the part of the Lord
6 1 4
M u c h A d o a b o u t N o t h i n g
Chamberlain’s Men (an acting company with withhisdaughterHero,andBeatrice,hisniece.
whichShakespearewasassociated)topreventa A messenger arrives, telling Leonato that Don
piratededitionofMuchAdoaboutNothingfrom Pedro, Prince of Aragon, an old friend of the
beingpublished. governor’s, is coming back from an unnamed
Inanycase,evidenceindicatesthatMuchAdo war.WithDonPedroisCountClaudio,ayoung
lord from Florence. Signior Benedick of Padua
about Nothing enjoyed considerable popularity
isalsointhegroupofreturningsoldiers.
duringShakespeare’sdayandthroughoutthesev-
enteenth and eighteenth centuries. But it was not WhenBeatricehearsthenameofBenedick,
untillateintheseventeenthcenturyandearlyinto she mocks him and everything the messenger
the next century that true critical assessments says about Benedick. Leonato explains that
first appeared. In the late seventeenth and early there is a war of wits between his niece and
eighteenth centuries, critics identified Ludovico Benedick.
Ariosto’s Italian Renaissance epic poem Orlando
The prince enters with his men and greets
Furioso(1516)asoneofMuchAdoaboutNothing’s
Leonato. Benedick and Beatrice exchange witty
principal sources. These early critics also intro-
barbs, not wasting any time with niceties.
ducedseveralthematicandtechnicalissues—ques-
Leonato invites the men to spend the month at
tions regarding how true to life the characters’
his estate. As the men enter the grounds, Don
wordsandactionsare,aswellasexaminationsof
John the Bastard, an illegitimate brother of the
Shakespeare’s use of language—that were to
prince, appears. There is tension between Don
becomeveryimportantinlaterstudiesofthecom-
John and Don Pedro, the prince, but Leonato
edy. As for other sources for Much Ado about
invites Don John to stay with him, hoping to
Nothing, the dramatist borrowed from a story in
resolvethestrainedfeelingsbetweenthebrothers.
Matteo Bandello’s collection of tales, La prima
Claudio mentions to Benedick that he is
parte de le novella (1554), which Shakespeare
attractedtoHero,Leonato’sdaughter.Benedick
knewbothinItalianandinFrench.InMuchAdo
makes fun of Claudio for falling in love and
about Nothing, Shakespeare tightened the action
consideringmarriage.Benedickclaimsthatmar-
for dramatic effect, drawing in elements from
riageistobedisdained.Womenareforentertain-
Ariosto’s version of the tale, along with some
ment, not love. When Don Pedro, the prince,
hints from Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene
learns that Claudio is in love, he offers to woo
(1590),amajorinfluenceonElizabethanwriters.
HeroforClaudioandthengainpermissionfrom
ThelanguageofMuchAdoaboutNothingis
LeonatoforHero’shand.
accessible even for modern audiences, except
for that of Dogberry, the comical Constable.
Act 1, Scene 2
But then, Dogberry probably was hard to
Leonato’s brother has overheard the conversa-
understandeveninhistimes.Dogberrylivesin
tion between Don Pedro and Claudio and tells
aworldofhisown,whilethetopicofconversa-
Leonato to prepare to answer the prince and
tionamongtheothercharactersfocusesonvar-
agree to give Claudio Hero’s hand. Leonato
ious aspects of love and relationships, which
goestoHeroandpreparesherfortheproposal,
translates well into any culture of any century.
tellinghertoacceptit.
Shakespeare’s genius is the understanding of
human psychology which, despite all the
Act 1, Scene 3
advances in other fields, remains fairly con-
DonJohn,theprince’sillegitimatebrother,also
stant throughout the years, making Much Ado
hearsofthisplan.Hedecidestosetupadecep-
about Nothing as relevant today as it will be
tionthatwillwreakhavocwithClaudio’sinten-
tomorrow.
tions. Don John is jealous of Don Pedro’s
attention to Claudio. Don John schemes with
Borachio and Conrade, two men who arrived
atLeonato’splacewithDonJohn.
PLOT SUMMARY
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 1
Much Ado about Nothing opens in Messina, Beatricetriestoimaginethebestmanwhocould
Italy. Leonato, the governor of the town, is possibly exist on earth. She takes part of one
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DanStevensasClaudio,OliviaDarnleyasHero,JanieDeeasBeatriceandPhilipVossasLeonatoin
ActV,sceneiv,attheTheatreRoyal,Bath,England,2005
((cid:2)DonaldCooper/Photostage.Reproducedbypermission)
man and places it on another, tryingto conjure jealous, believing that Don Pedro has tricked
someone she might be interested in marrying. him. Instead of wooing Hero for Claudio, he
Thenshedropsthesubject,statingthatshewill believes the prince is wooing her for himself.
nevermarry. Claudio asks Don John how he knows Don
Pedro is doing this. Don John says that the
Meanwhile, Leonato counsels his daughter,
prince confessed his love of Hero to him. After
tellinghertolistencarefullytowhattheprinceis
DonJohnleaves,Claudiorunsaway.
abouttosaytoher.DonPedroapproachesHero,
andtheyleavethescene,takingawalksotheycan Beatrice finds Claudio and brings him to
talk to one another. While they walk, the other Don Pedro, who tells Claudio that Hero has
characters in the play dance, their faces masked. been won and Leonato has agreed to marriage.
BeatriceendsupdancingwithBenedick.Itisnot Hero will marry Claudio. Then the prince and
clear if she knows it is he, but she tells him that Beatrice talk. Don Pedro tells Beatrice that she
Benedick is a fool. Benedick is offended, but he has a merry heart. He then asks if she would
doesnotunmaskhimselforrevealhisidentity. marryhim.ButBeatriceturnstheprincedown,
statingthatheistoofancyforher.
DonJohnapproachesClaudioandpretends
he does not recognize him. Instead, he asks if Beatrice and Benedick once again turn on
ClaudioisBenedick.Claudiotellshimthatheis. eachother,Benedickdeclaringthathewishesthe
DonJohnthentellsClaudio/Benedickthatheis prince would send him far away so that he will
concernedthatDonPedrohasfalleninlovewith nothavetodealwithBeatriceanylonger.Then
Heroandis,atthatmoment,askingforherhand BenedickandBeatriceleave,andtheprincesug-
in marriage. Don John says that if the prince gests that Leonato, Hero, and Claudio help
goesthroughwithit,hewillbemarryingbeneath him put together a plan to bring Benedick and
hissocialstatus.Ofcourse,Claudioisfuriously Beatricetogether.
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Act 2, Scene 2 Act 3, Scene 2
Don John and Borachio hatch another scheme Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato observe
to thwart the marriage of Hero and Claudio. changesinBenedick.Benedicksaysitisbecause
Borachio, who has been having an affair with he has a toothache, but the other men say it is
Margaret, one of Hero’s ladies-in-waiting, says because he has fallen in love. They tease him
thathecanbeinHero’sbedroomatanytimeat about how he now brushes his hair and is con-
night.HetellsDonJohntobeatthewindowof cerned about his looks. Benedick, they say, is
Hero’sbedroomthatnightandallDonJohnhas now even taking baths and wearing perfume.
to do is to make sure that Don Pedro and Benedick tires of the teasing and asks Leonato
to walk with him, because Benedick has some-
Claudioseewhatishappeningatthatwindow.
thingtotellhim.
DonJohnappearsandaskstospeaktothe
Act 2, Scene 3
prince.Claudioisstandingthere,butDonJohn
Still in the afternoon, Benedick is sitting in the says he can stay as what he is about to say
garden when he sees Don Pedro, Leonato, and involves Claudio’s future. Don John then tells
Claudioapproach.Benedickdecidestohide.He themboththathehasproofthatHerohasbeen
wants nothing to do with any talk of love from unfaithful to Claudio. She has been having
Claudio.Inanaside,Benedickstatesthathewill an affair with another man. Don Pedro and
neverhaveanythingtodowithmarriage. Claudio cannot believe this. So Don John tells
them that he can prove it to them. They are to
The prince and the other men have seen
meethimthatnight,underthewindowtoHero’s
Benedick and know that he is hiding from
bedroom.TheywillseeforthemselvesthatHero
them.Theycallforatroubadourtosingasong
isnotworthyofmarriage.
aboutlove.Thentheytalkabouthowtheyhave
heard Beatrice declare her love of Benedick.
Benedick, of course, is caught completely off Act 3, Scene 3
guard. But the more he hears, the better he Thetown’sconstable,Dogberry,amanofwords
likes it, however, he is not sure they are telling thatneverquitemakesense,appears.Dogberry
thetruth.Helistenstomoreanddecides thatif is coming to Leonato’s house to check on the
LeonatoissayingthatBeatriceloveshim,thenit watchmen, who are standing guard outside.
mustbetrue.Ofcourse,Beatriceisinlovewith Dogberry gives them orders, asks them ques-
him, Benedick finally realizes. How could she tions, and corrects their answers, but none of
notbe? hisorders,questions,orcorrectionsarerational.
He tells them, for example, that they are to
The men leave and send Beatrice to fetch
remain silent, which the watchmen interpret to
Benedickfordinner.
mean that they can go to sleep, and which
Dogberry appears to confirm. He also tells
them to make sure that any drunkards are told
Act 3, Scene 1
to go home—unless they do not respond to the
WhileBenedickwaits,hetriestorationalizehav-
orders. In that case the guards are to leave
ing changed his mind about marriage. When
them lie where they find them. Before leaving,
Beatrice appears, she is her usual self, but
Dogberry warns the men to keep a close watch
Benedick has changed. He does not argue with
on Leonato’s house because there is to be a big
her.Instead,hekeepsturningsomeofherbarbs
weddinginthemorning.
to his advantage, reading into them something
While the watchmen stand guard and are
pleasant, finding signs of love hidden inside
about to fall asleep, Borachio and Conrade
them.
appear.Theguardshideandlisten,sensingthat
Onherwaybacktothehouse,Beatriceover- they are about to hear the details of a scheme.
hears Hero and her other lady-in-waiting, Borachio, unaware that anyone is listening,
Ursula, talking about how they have heard brags about how he has deceived Don Pedro
Benedick saying that he loves Beatrice. It does and Claudio. Borachio has wooed Margaret,
not take long for Beatrice to admit to herself Hero’s lady-in-waiting, in front of Hero’s bed-
that,infact,shedoesloveBenedick. roomwindow,pretendinghewaswooingHero.
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DonPedroandClaudiofellforthetrick,believ- Hero,sayingthatsheislike‘‘pamperedanimals
ingthatHerowasunfaithful. /Thatrageinsavagesensuality.’’Leonatoturns
Whentheguardshearthis,theyarrestBorachio toDonPedroforhelp,buttheprincestandsby
andConrade Claudio,decliningtoallowClaudiotobelinked
to‘‘acommonstale,’’areferencetoalow-class
Act 3, Scene 4 prostitute. Claudio then bids farewell to Hero,
Hero, Margaret, and Beatrice get ready for calling her ‘‘most foul, most fair,’’ exposing
Hero’s wedding. When Beatrice says that she what he thinks of her now compared to what
feels ill, Margaret teases Beatrice about being heusedtothinkofher.Uponhearingthis,Hero
in love. Ursula, Hero’s other lady-in-waiting, collapses.
comes in and calls them out to the wedding. Beatrice calls for help, but Leonato says
Everyoneiswaitingforthem.
that, for her shame, Hero is best left dead. If
shedoeswakeupfromthefaint,Leonatoswears
Act 3, Scene 5
hewillkillher.
Dogberry comes to Leonato to tell him about
The friar asks for their patience, stating
BorachioandConrade’sscheme.ButDogberry
that he thinks there is a scheme in all this. He
isnotveryclear aboutwhathashappened,and
suggests that they all pretend that Hero has,
Leonato loses all patience with him. Dogberry
indeed, died. In this way, her shame will die
saysthathehascapturedtwoscoundrels,buthe
with her, the truth will be found out, and then
failstotellhimwhatthescoundrelsareaccused
Herocanbereborn.
of. Leonato tells Dogberry that he is very busy
right then because of the wedding and that EveryoneleavesbutBenedickandBeatrice.
Dogberry should examine the men’s story him- Benedick professes his love of Beatrice. How-
self.AmessengerthenappearsandtellsLeonato ever, Beatrice is so overwrought about Hero
thatitistimetogettothechurchforhisdaugh- that she has trouble returning Benedick’s love.
ter’swedding. EventuallysherevealsthatshetoolovesBenedick,
butshewantshimtoswearhislovetohernotin
Act 4, Scene 1 wordsbutinactions.WhenBenedickaskshowhe
Everyone is standing before the friar, who is might do this, Beatrice tells him to kill Claudio.
preparedtomarryClaudioandHero. Whenhe Benedick refuses. Beatrice says that Benedick’s
asks Claudio: ‘‘You come hither, my lord, to refusaltodothiskillsher.Sheproclaims:‘‘O,that
marry this lady?,’’ Claudio surprises everyone Iwereaman!’’(alinethatisoftenquotedfrom
by responding, ‘‘no.’’ Leonato tries to clarify thisplay).Shegoesontosaythatifshewerea
the situation, insinuating that the friar has man, she ‘‘would eat his [Claudio’s] heart in the
asked the question incorrectly. Leonato says: marketplace.’’
‘‘To be married to her.’’ In other words, the BenedickpleadswithBeatricetobereason-
friar is marrying them. But Claudio is being able.BeatricesaysthatHerois‘‘wronged,sheis
married to Hero. The friar then turns his ques- slandered, she is undone.’’ Benedick asks Bea-
tiontoHero,whorespondswiththeappropriate tricetothink deeplyaboutthis. Does shereally
answer,‘‘Ido.’’Thetensionisreleasedforafew believe that Count Claudio has done this to
seconds, until the friar asks if either of them Hero?Beatricereplies,yes.Ifthatisso,Benedick
knows anyreason why theyshouldnotbe wed. says,thenhewillchallengeClaudiotoaduel.
Insteadofanswering,ClaudioturnstoHeroand
asks her directly if she knows any reason they Act 4, Scene 2
should not be wed. No one understands why In a courtroom-like scene, Dogberry and his
Claudioisactingsostrangely,except,ofcourse, assistantVergesappearbeforethetownsexton.
DonPedro.WhenLeonatoaskswhyClaudiois The watchmen, as well as Conrade and Bora-
actingthewayheis,Claudiosaysthathewillnot chio, are there. Dogberry stumbles through his
bewedtoan‘‘approve`dwanton.’’ accusation of crime against Conrade and Bora-
Atfirst,LeonatothinksthatitwasClaudio chio,asthesextontriestoassistDogberryinthe
himself who was responsible for Hero’s losing examination procedures. Eventually the truth
her virginity, if that is, in fact, what has hap- comes out. Then the sexton tells Dogberry and
pened. Claudio denies this. Then he turns on everyoneelseintheroomthathehasjustheard
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that Don John has run away and that the mar-
riagebetweenHeroandClaudiohasbeencalled
off,andHero,lostinhergrief,hasdied.
Act 5, Scene 1
MEDIA
Leonatoisoverwhelmedbygriefandconfusion.
ADAPTATIONS
His brother tries to comfort him, but Leonato
states that it is easy, when you are not the one
thatisstricken,totellanothertoeaseuponhis (cid:2) ThereisaDVDofJosephPapp’s1973New
pain.ThenthetwobrothersseeDonPedroand YorkShakespeareFestivalBroadwaystage
Claudioandpursuethem.Leonatoaccusesthem production of Much Ado about Nothing set
ofruiningHero’sgoodname.Hetellsthemthat inasummery‘‘America’’justaftertheSpan-
ish-AmericanWar,withDogberry(Barnard
heisnottoooldorlackinginenergytochallenge
Hughes)asaKeystonecop.SamWaterston
them. Before leaving, the brothers say they will
plays Benedick with Kathleen Widdoes as
havetheirrevenge.
Beatrice.TheDVDwasproducedbyKultur
Benedick appears. Don Pedro and Claudio
Studio.
are happy to see him. The prince is planning to
(cid:2) The BBC (British Broadcasting Company)
leavewithClaudioandassumesBenedickwillbe
produced a television adaptation of Much
comingwiththem.Benedicksaysthatbecauseof
Ado about Nothing aspart oftheseriesThe
what they have done to Hero, Benedick will no
ShakespearePlays.BBC,1984.
longerbetravelingwiththem.Hetellsthemthat
HerohasdiedandDonJohnhasrunaway.Then (cid:2) In1993,ColumbiaTristarproducedthemovie
Benedick accuses Claudio of slandering Hero Much Ado about Nothing (1993) under the
andthuskillingher.Forthis,Benedicksays,he direction of Kenneth Branagh, who also
challenges Claudio to a duel. Benedick leaves, played the part of Benedick. Other actors
sayinghewillwaitforClaudio’sanswer. include Emma Thompson, Denzel Washing-
ton,MichaelKeaton,andKeanuReeves.The
Dogberry then appears with Verges, the
filmwasshotonlocationinTuscany,Italy.It
watchmen, and Borachio and Conrade. Bora-
isavailableonDVD.
chio admits what he has done. Don Pedro and
Claudiorealizetheirmistakeandtheconsequen- (cid:2) The BBC also produced a modernized ver-
cesithascaused.WhenLeonatoandhisbrother sion of Much Ado about Nothing for televi-
reappear,theprinceandClaudiobegforforgive- sionin2005,settingmuchoftheactionina
ness. Claudio says he is willing to accept any televisionstudioofthetwenty-firstcentury.
punishment from Leonato for having been the
causeofHero’sdeath. Leonatotells Claudio to
go throughout the city and claim Hero’s inno-
cence. Then Claudio needs to write a poem
about Hero and sing it in front of her grave. Benedick leave to find all the other members of
Finally, Leonato tells Claudio that his brother thehousehold.
hasadaughter,almosttheimageofHero.Leo-
natoasksthatClaudiomarryhisnieceinplaceof
Act 5, Scene 3
Hero. Claudio consents to all that Leonato has
Claudio is at Hero’s tomb. He reads the poem
demanded.LeonatothenhasBorachioandCon-
thathehaswrittenaboutHero’sinnocenceand
radetakenaway.
the ‘‘slanderous tongues’’ that have caused her
death. A song is sung that reflects these same
Act 5, Scene 2
sentiments. Then Claudio promises to visit her
Benedickisseen,attemptingtowritelovepoetry
tombeachyear.
to his Beatrice. He fails miserably, deciding that
he is not a writer. Beatrice appears and the two
admit their love, once again, and flirt with one Act 5, Scene 4
another.Ursulaenters,announcingthatBorachio Everyonehasgatheredforthesecondweddingof
hasadmittedhisscheme.Afteronceagainadmit- ClaudioandHero—everyonebutDonPedroand
ting their love to one another, Beatrice and Claudio. Margaret has been questioned about
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her part in the scheme and is believed when she scene, with Claudio believing she is Antonio’s
saysthatshedidnotrealizethatClaudioandthe daughter.
prince were being tricked by her actions with
Borachio. Benedick is happy with the turn of Balthasar
events, because now he does not have to kill his Balthasar is an attendant to Don Pedro, the
friend Claudio. Benedick then takes Leonato to prince.ItisBalthasarwhosingsthemelancholy
the side and asks for Leonato’s permission to love song, ‘‘Sigh No More, Ladies, Sigh No
marryhisniece,Beatrice.Leonatoapproves. More,’’inact2,scene3,astheprince,Leonato,
and Claudio trick Benedick into believing that
LeonatotellsHero,Beatrice,Margaret,and
Beatriceisinlovewithhim.
Ursulatoleaveandwhenhecallsforthem,they
are to return with their faces masked. After the
Beatrice
princeandClaudioappear,Leonatocallsforthe
women. Hero steps forward when asked to. Beatrice is Leonato’s niece and Hero’s cousin.
Claudio wants to see her face but Leonato says She is a strong-willed woman who knows her
notuntilClaudiovowstomarryher.ThenHero mindandisnotafraidtospeakit.Sheiscontent,
orsoshesays,toremainunmarried,suggestinga
liftsthemaskandClaudiorealizesitisHero.
Shakespearean link, as some scholars have the-
Astheyallpreparetoleaveforthepartyto
orized,toQueenElizabethI,whonevermarried.
celebratethemarriage,Benedickasksthemallto
Beatrice demonstrates her intelligence through
stop.HethencallsoutforBeatriceandasksher
wittybarbsthatsheusesagainstBenedickfrom
toprofessherloveforhim. Beatrice denieslov-
the beginning to the end of the play. Although
inghimmorethanasjustafriend.SoBenedick
she uses these barbs to prove that she has no
denies loving Beatrice. But Claudio and Hero
feelings for Benedick, it becomes clear that her
display copies of the love poems that both
feelings forhim arestrong.She ismerelyafraid
BenedickandBeatricehadtriedtowritetoone
ofshowingthemforwhattheyare,soshemasks
another.BenedickandBeatricerealizethatthey
themwithherwit.
can no longer deny their love and promise to
Even after Benedick confesses his love for
marry.WhenBenedickisteasedaboutallthose
her,Beatrice,unlikeHero,doesnotimmediately
things he had previously said against love and
give in.ShewantsproofofBenedick’s loveand
marriage,hesayshedoesnotcareabouthowhe
issuesBenedickabigchallenge.Sheaskshimto
feltinthepast.
killhisfriendClaudio,forhavingshamedHero.
AmessengerappearswiththenewsthatDon Beatrice tests the love that Benedick claims,
Johnhasbeenfoundandcaptured.Benedicktells rather than just accepting his words. Benedick
theprincetoputoffthinkingabouthisbrother’s passes the text by accepting the challenge,
punishment. Benedick will help him think up becausehedoestrulyloveBeatrice.
something appropriate tomorrow. Then they all
Evenattheendoftheplay,whenBenedick
leavetoenjoythemusicanddance.
asksBeatricetotelleveryonethatsheloveshim,
she refuses to go first. She does not want to be
humiliated,intheeventthatBenedickissetting
her up. Once Benedick has been exposed pub-
CHARACTERS
licly,however,Beatricegivesin.
Antonio
Benedick
Antonio is Leonato’s brother. He is present
BenedickisayounglordofPadua.OneofDon
throughout the play but becomes most promi-
Pedro’ssoldiers,heisaconfirmedbachelorwho
nent after Claudio accuses Hero of being
initially sees in Beatrice only a verbal sparring
unfaithful to him at the wedding. Antonio tries
partner;eachtriestooutdotheotherinexpress-
to calm his brother but nonetheless joins his
ingmutualdisdain,thoughtheyeventuallyagree
brother in confronting the prince and Claudio,
tomarry.
willingtofightthemforHero’shonor.Leonato
latertellsClaudiothathisbrotherAntoniohasa One of Don Pedro’s trusted comrades-in-
daughter who looks just like Hero and asks arms,Benedickpossessesabrisk,bouncingnature
Claudio to marry her. Antonio gives Hero andreadywit.Heisaself-confessedbachelorwho
(whoismasked)toClaudioatthefinalwedding wouldprefertoenjoylifewhilekeepingwomenat
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arm’s length—especially Beatrice, for whom he Pedro, the prince, is after Hero for himself.
has a particular, antagonistic regard. His disdain AlthoughthisdeeplyhurtsClaudio,hesaysnoth-
forwomen,ithasbeensuggested,maskshiswary ingofittoDonPedro,willing,likeHero,toaccept
respect for Beatrice, with whom he might have whateverisdealthim.Claudio,whoclaimstobe
been once involved romantically. As evidence of head-over-heels in love with Hero, nonetheless
this,criticsnotethegiddy,schoolboyishbehavior falls for another trick by Don John. The only
Benedick exhibits upon being tricked into believ- time Claudio shows any gumption is when he
ing that Beatrice loves him, rationalizing that accuses Hero (mistakenly) of cheating on him.
Beatrice’s scorn is really a fac¸ade that covers her He shames her in front of everyone, calling her
deepaffectionforBenedick. horriblenamesandwantingtohavenothingtodo
withher.Evenwhenhehearsthatshehasdied,he
Benedick’snewfoundpassionisputtothetest
showsnofeelings.
severely after Hero’s humiliation by Claudio.
Beatrice commands Benedick to kill Claudio. Upon learning that he has been set up by
Benedick is torn between his love for Beatrice DonJohnandthatHerowasinnocent,Claudio
and his loyalty to his army comrade. Ultimately, displays not so much emotion or regret but
love for Beatrice wins out, and Benedick coldly rather conformstothe role that acountshould
and insistently challenges Claudio to single com- play. He asks for forgiveness and accepts his
bat.Allseemsheadedforasadandviolentparting punishment, which includes marrying another
between the two friends, until Borachio and woman,orsohethinks.WhenClaudiodiscovers
ConradeconfesstheirguiltinshamingHero. that the other woman is Hero, he immediately
falls back in love with her, forgetting all the
In the end, Benedick is reconciled with
negative feelings he so easily succumbed to
Claudio and engaged to Beatrice, with whom
before.
he has a final, friendly skirmish of wit. Critics
notethatwhenalloftheprincipalcharactersare ClaudioisoneofthemilitaryheroesofDon
onstagetogether,themajorinterestoftheaudi- Pedro’svictoryoverDonJohn’sforces.Heisan
ence is not the love-at-first-sight relationship impressionable, unimaginative young man who
that develops between Hero and Claudio, but is somewhat out of place in the lively, witty
rather the merry war between Beatrice and society of Messina. He falls in love with Hero
Benedick. upon first laying eyes on her, believes immedi-
ately in her unfaithfulness upon witnessing
Borachio Borachio’s deception, immediately agrees to
marry another woman sight unseen, and then
BorachioisafollowerofDonJohn,theprince’s
unapologetically enters into marriage with the
illegitimatebrother.Borachioishavinganaffair
so-called resurrected Hero. Not surprisingly,
with Margaret, one of the ladies-in-waiting to
critics have described Claudio as one of the
Hero. It is Borachio who comes up with the
leastlikableloversinShakespeare.
plantotricktheprinceandClaudiointobeliev-
ing that Hero is unfaithful. Borachio purposely
placesMargaretatHero’swindowandthencalls Conrade
outHero’sname,makingitlooklikeBorachiois ConradeisafollowerofDonJohn,theprince’s
having an affair with Hero. Later Borachio is brother. Conrade is with Borachio when the
arrested and tried for his crime. It is his admis- watchmen hear Borachio boasting of how he
sion that makes Claudio and the prince realize has fooled the prince and Claudio. Conrade is
thattheyhavemisjudgedHero. arrestedwithBorachio.
Count Claudio Dogberry
Claudio is a count from Florence who has been Dogberry is the local constable who has trouble
fighting atthe side ofDonPedro,theprince.He speaking clearly. Dogberry is in charge of the
has fallen in love with Hero upon seeing her at watchmen who overhear Borachio confess that
Leonato’s. Claudio is shy and unsure of himself hehastrickedtheprinceandClaudiointobeliev-
and allows Don Pedro to woo Hero for him. ing that Hero is having an affair. Dogberry
Hero also gains permission to marry Claudio becomes flustered when he approaches Leonato
fromLeonato.However,Claudioiseasilytricked with the news that he has caughtBorachio. Leo-
by Don John, who informs Claudio that Don nato, who becomes impatient with Dogberry,
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shoostheconstableaway,thussettingintomotion Consideredoneofthemoreproblematicfig-
the catastrophe at Hero’s wedding. Later, Dog- uresintheplay,DonJohnisasnake-in-the-grass.
berryreturnstoLeonato’sandtellseveryonewhat The bastard half-brother of Don Pedro, he is a
Borachiohasdone. rebel and presumably a traitor whose armed
uprising results not in his deserved death but in
Friar Francis anattemptedreconciliationbetweenhimselfand
FriarFrancisrepresentsthechurchandofficiates the perhaps overly kind Don Pedro. The latter
attheweddingofClaudioandHero,bothtimes. fails to see that Don John has a deep-seated
ItisalsoFriarFranciswhotriestocalmLeonato, grudgethatleadshimtotrytodestroythehappi-
whenHeroisaccusedofbeingunfaithful,telling ness of the principal figures who defeated him:
Leonatothathesuspectsthatsomeoneisschem- Don Pedro and Claudio. Don John is thus
ing.FriarFrancisalsosuggeststhatHeropretend allowed enough freedom by his captors that he
thatsheisdead. nearly wrecks several lives. Don John is consid-
ered, by many critics, to be a cardboard villain,
Hero notawell-drawncharacter.
Hero is Leonato’s daughter. She is young and
innocentandfallsinlovewithClaudio.Afterher Leonato
marriage is arranged, Hero focuses on her LeonatoisthegovernorofMessina,thefatherof
cousin,Beatrice,trickingBeatriceintoadmitting Hero, the uncle of Beatrice, and the brother of
thatsheisinlovewithBenedick.Onthedayof Antonio. It is at Leonato’s house that most of
herweddingtoClaudio,Heroentersthechurch this play takes place. He is a loving father and
asinnocentandpureasever.However,Claudio uncle, who wants to see both women married.
haschangedandHeroisatalossastowhythis Heisalsoagraciousandgeneroushost,inviting
has happened. When Claudio accuses Hero of thegroupofsoldierswiththeprincetostaywith
being unfaithful to him, Hero faints. She is himforthemonth.
shamed in front of her community and can not
Leonatochanges,however,whenhisdaugh-
handleit.Shecomplieswiththefriar,then,and
terispubliclyshamedatherweddingtoClaudio.
fakesherdeath.Aftertheschemetoslanderher
He takes the side of the accusers, at first claim-
has been revealed and Claudio makes amends,
ing,whenHerofaints,thathehopesshedies.If
HeroiswillingtotakeClaudiobackandmarries
shedoesnotdie,Leonatosaysheiswillingtokill
him without much being said between them, as
her. Once his rage subsides, however, he goes
if nothing had happened. In comparison to
after her accusers, telling them that he will get
Beatrice, Hero is weak and too willing to get
to the bottom of their accusations. If they had
married. This makes her love appear thin and
anyhandinsettingthisschemeagainsther,heis
shallow,andmakesitappearthatsheismarry-
willingtochallengethemtoaduel.
inginordertobemarriedinsteadofbecauseshe
When the mystery is solved, Leonato then
lovesClaudio.IthasbeensaidoftenthatHerois,
returns to his loving self and instantly forgives
for the most part, a sweet but colorless young
theprinceandClaudio.
womanwhoisnotsomuchathree-dimensional
character as an entity existing to fill a place in
Margaret
the drama. She and Claudio mechanically go
throughthemotionsofbetrothal,withnodevel- Margaretisalady-in-waitingtoHero.Margaret
opment of interest, no initial conflict, nor even ishavinganaffairwithBorachiobutsheisinno-
anywooingofHeroonClaudio’spart. centoftheschemethatBorachiohatchestomake
the prince and Claudio believe that Margaret is
Don John Hero. Later, Leonato questions Margaret to
makesurethatshedidnotknowwhatBorachio
Don John is listed as Don Pedro’s bastard
was up to. Margaret is quickly cleared and is
brother. Don John is the villain of the play,
broughtbackintothefoldofthefamily.
an undeveloped character who causes trouble,
sometimes with little result, and by the end of
theplayiscaught.Hispresenceintheplayisfelt Don Pedro
in his absence almost as much aswhen he is on DonPedroistheprinceofAragon,thebrother
stage, which is not often. He has no redeeming ofDonJohn.Theprincehasledhissoldiersina
valuesanddoesnotchangethroughouttheplay. battle and comes to Leonato’s house at the
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beginning of the play. The prince is a friend of Beatrice and Benedick, with their relentless dis-
Leonato’s.Itisbecauseofthisrelationshipthat dainforeachother.Eachtriestooutdoandout-
Leonato invites all the soldiers to stay at his dueltheotherincraftingthecleverestandmost
houseforthemonth. deflating remarks, and the impression is given
DonPedroisverymuchinvolvedinthelivesof that their sparring has a long history, one that
his soldiers, especially Claudio’s and Benedick’s. precedestheactionoftheplay.Thegoalofeach
FirsttheprincewoosHeroinClaudio’snameand isnottodeliverthemostcrushing,hot-blooded
gains permission from Leonato for Claudio to blastbuttoofferthemostcoollydisdainfuland
marry Hero. After the prince asks Beatrice if she wittyremarkspossible.
will marry him and Beatrice refuses, the prince After BenedickandBeatriceactuallyadmit
schemestobringBenedickandBeatricetogether. thelovetheyhavebeenhidingundertheirmasks
The prince gathers several of the people at of disdain for one another, the tragedy of
Leonato’s house and has them plant little tidbits ClaudioandHero’sseparationcausesadifferent
of information in the minds of Benedick and typeofwarbetweenBenedickandBeatrice.The
Beatrice,pretendingthattheyhaveheardbothof suddenandnewfoundtendernessthatBenedick
them expressing their love for one another. The and Beatrice have shared reverts to a heated,
trick works, and Benedick and Beatrice finally near-frantic rage on the part of Beatrice, after
admittheirlove Benedick hesitates at her command to kill
Despite the fact that there are bad feelings Claudio. Here she turns from employing wit to
between Don Pedro and his brother Don John, questioningBenedick’s manhood. In one ofthe
theprinceiseasilyfooledbyhisbrother.Hedoes most-often quoted sections of Much Ado about
notquestiontheactionsofDonJohnwhenheis Nothing,she declares, ‘‘O that I were a man for
broughttothewindowofHerothenightbefore hissake!OrthatIhadanyfriendwouldbeaman
Claudio’s marriage to her. Instead, he joins in for my sake! But manhood is melted into curt-
accusingHeroofbeingequaltoaprostitute.The sies, valor into compliment, and men are only
princeisforgivenbythefinaleoftheplay,which turned into tongue, and trim ones, too. He is
Benedickendsonacutenotebytellingtheprince now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie
togethimselfawife. and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing:
thereforeIwilldieawomanwithgrieving.’’This
Ursula sentiment is one with the words of Balthasar’s
Ursula is another of Hero’s ladies-in-waiting. song,fromact2,scene3:‘‘Sighnomore,ladies,
Ursula helps Hero trick Beatrice into believing sigh no more, / Men were deceivers ever / One
thatBenedickisinlovewithher. foot in sea, and one on shore, / To one thing
constantnever.’’Thissong,oneoftheloveliestin
Verges all of Shakespeare’s plays, describes the war
Verges is the inept assistant to the constable, betweenthesexes,settopoeticphrases.
Dogberry.HeandDogberryrepresentcomicrelief
inthemidstofthemoretensepartsoftheplay. Appearance versus Reality
Thethemeofappearanceversusrealityhaslong
been considered central to this play’s structure
andtone.Allofthemaincharactersdeceiveor
THEMES
aredeceivedbyothersatsomepointduringthe
War of the Sexes play. There is the masked ball, during which
Beatrice reveals her feelings to Benedick, not
Thedifferencesbetweenmenandwomen—how
knowing that she is speaking directly to him
they relate to each other, how they misunder-
because he wears a mask. There is also the
stand each other, how they love and repel each
maskedbrideatthesecondweddingattheend
other—is a common theme in motion pictures,
oftheplay,sothatClaudiodoesnotknowwhat
comics,televisionshows,andworldliterature.It
woman he is marrying until Hero reveals
also appears throughout Shakespeare’s com-
herself.
edies as well, and Much Ado about Nothing is
no exception to the pattern. In this play, much There are many other forms of deception,
of the conflict between the sexes concerns such as the schemes of Don John as he tries to
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